Bay Area News

Ruling delayed for Santa Cruz man accused of killing city attorney in Hawaii

By Jessica M. Pasko, Santa Cruz Sentinel

Posted:
01/31/2013 11:42:28 AM PST

Updated:
01/31/2013 11:42:30 AM PST

WAILUKU, Hawaii -- A psychiatric evaluation is pending for the man accused of killing a Santa Cruz attorney while on vacation in Hawaii in September 2011.

Gerald Galaway Jr., also of Santa Cruz, was charged with murder for the death of Celestial Dove Cassman, who served as an assistant city attorney for Santa Cruz, Capitola and Half Moon Bay.

In June, Galaway pleaded no contest to manslaughter and kidnapping, but then later entered a motion to withdraw a plea. He claimed he was "in a trance" when he entered the plea. He's also replaced his private attorney with a public defender.

A Hawaii state judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Galaway but the examination has been delayed for a fourth time. Second Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza was set to review the evaluation Tuesday but it hasn't been completed, according to prosecutor John Kim.

Kim said a new date was set for March 14.

Cassman, 35, was killed a day after she and Galaway, her onetime boyfriend, arrived in Maui for vacation. Witnesses reported seeing the pair fighting on the side of a highway on Sept. 1, 2011. Galaway apparently pulled over their rental car on the side of the road and Cassman screamed for help. A woman told Maui police she saw Galaway put Cassman into a headlock, slam her down on the road and then drag her off.

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Police found Cassman's body under a tree. An autopsy determined she died of asphyxiation. Officers chased Galaway, but he jumped from a cliff into the ocean. He was arrested the next day after he was found clinging to a rock down below.